Clutch mechanism



April 13, 1937. E. D. JONES 'CLUTCH MECHANISM Filed'OGt. 24, 1932 www@ www@ ('Itfomegs lintimal Apr'. is, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE lCLUTCH MECHANISM Edward D. Jones, Clinton, Iowa, assitnor of onehalf to Ernest C. Jones, Clinton, Iowa application october 24, 1932, sei-iai No. 639,351 1 claim. (Ci. 19a-53) whereby the operation of the usual gear shift lever, will operate to clutch the gears of the transmission to their shafts, thereby eliminating the use of the usual clutch, and foot pedal.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a clutch member associated with each gear of the transmission, the clutch members being of the coney type, and so constructed that the gears will be gradually moved into operation. With the foregoing and other objects in View, which will appear as the description proceeds, the

invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the-precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawing: The gure is a longitudinal sectional view through a transmission constructed in accordance with the invention. s

Referring to the drawing in detail, the device comprises a gear housing indicated generally by the reference character 5, the gear housing being provided with bearing supports 8, in which the bearings I are mounted.

Mounted in certain of these bearings, is the drive shaft 8, which is formed with a ange 9 at its forward end, which ange has openings to accommodate bolts, whereby the flange may be secured directly to the ily wheel of the motor, not shown, to the end that the drive shaft rotates continuously, while the engine or motor is in operation. Extending into the opposite end of the gear housing 5, is a shaft I8 which constitutes the driven shaft of the vehicle, and to which power is applied, from the drive shaft 8.

This shaft I0- is mounted in suitable bearings formed in the bearing supports 6, at the rear end of the housing 5. The shaft Il is also supported in bearings formed in certain of the bearing supports 8, and is disposed in parallel spaced relation with the drive shaft 8, while another shaft indicated by the reference character I2 is also supported within the housing, and operates in bearings formed in certain of the hearing supports. Mounted on the shaft 8, near one end thereof,

is a bevelled gear I3 and a gear I4, the gear I4 on Ythe shaft 8.

being formed integral with the gear I3, so that the gears I3 and I4 move simultaneously. As clearly shown by the figure of the drawing, the gear I3 is much larger than the gear I4. y

The inner surface ofthe bevelled gear I3 is 5 provided with openings for the reception of the'A pins I5, which are spring pressed, and held'to the limits of their inward movements,l by means of the springs I6.

spuncd cn the shaft s, is a clutch member-iig f which is formed with inclined end surfaces il f` x that are adapted to engage the inclineiiiiia ends of the pins I5, thereby clutching the'g V I3 and I 4, which normally are loosely.irnouizilied.-

Associated with the opposite end of the clutch member Il is a gear I9, which is of adiameter equal to the diameter of the gear I3, the gear I8 being also provided with pockets for the reception of the pins 20 that are held inwardly, means of the springs 2|. The bevelled end 22. of the clutch member I1, cooperates with these v pins 20, in locking the gear I9 to the shaft 8. These gears I3 and I9 are constantly in mesh with the gear 23 that is mounted on a shaft, which 25 I in turn is disposed in a suitable bearing opening, formed in one wall of the gear housing.

The reference character 25 designates a gear that is loosely mounted on the-inner end of the shaft 8, the gear being provided with an enlarged 30 portion 26 which is provided with spring pressed pins 21, that cooperate with the clutch member 28 which is splined on the inner end of the drive shaft 8.

Secured to the inner end of the shaft I0, is a 35 clutch member 29 that is formed with pockets to receive the spring pressed pins 30, the clutch member 28 being movable into engagement with the pins ,30, in clutching the shafts 8 and I0 together. Loosely mounted on the shaft I0 is a 40 gear 3l, which is provided with an enlargement 32 that supports the spring pressed pins 33, which pins engage the bevelled inner side of the clutch f member 34, which is also splined on theshaft I0.

The reference character 35 designates 'a gear 45 which is loosely mounted on the shaft I8 at a point near the rear end of the housing`- l.' the gear 35 being provided with an enlargement 36 which supports the spring pressed pins 8l that contact with the bevelled inner side of the clutch member 38 splined on the shaft I0, thereby clutching the gear 35 to the shaft I0. f v- Supported at the forward end of the shaft Il ,j' is a gear 33 that meshes with the gear I4 tofu 2 :,ovaesa the end that when the gear I4 is clutched to the shaft 6, movement of the shaft' 6v will be' transmitted to the gear 36 and shaft I I.

Keyed on the inner end of the shaft II, is a 5- gear 40 which is in mesh with the gear 6I at all times. j

Meshing with the gear 25, is a gear 4I that is secured to the shaft I2, to rotate therewith. At the opposite end of the shaft 'I2 is afgear l 42 that rotates with the shaft I2. This gear is in constant mesh with the gear 65. A collar indicated by the reference character 43 is mounted on the shaft I2, and engages one of the bearing supports 6, to hold the shaft I2 against movel ment longitudinally of the housing 5.

Within the housing 5, and depending from the cover 44 thereof, are arms 45, which provide supports for the actuating bars 46, that are slidably mounted in parallel relation with respect to each other.

These bars 46 (only one of which is visible on the drawing) are formed with offset portions 48 that register, when the bars are in their neutral positions, thereby providing an opening into which the inner end of the gear shift lever 50 extends, the offset portions 48 providing shoulders to be engaged by the lever 50 moving the bars 46, when the inner end of the lever50 moves within the opening. Depending from the cover plate 44, are lugs 52, 53 and 54 respectively, the lugs 52 providing a support for the shaft 55 on which the mutilated gear 56 is secured.

This shaft 55 provides a support for the arm 51, that extends downwardly and connects with the clutch member I1, to operate the clutch mem- 'ber I1. 'I'he bar 46 (not shown on the drawing) is provided with teeth 56 that mesh with the mutilated gear 56, so that movement of the bar, will rotate the gear 56, which in turn rotates the 4o shaft 55, moving the arm 51 operating the clutch .member I1.

The lug 53 provides a support for the shaft 59 on which the mutilated gear 60 is secured, the mutilated gear 66 meshing with the teeth 6I formed in the lower surface of the bar 46.

'Ihe actuating arm 62 is secured to the shaft 59, and engages the clutch member 26, transmitting movement of the shaft 56 to the clutch member 26.

The lug 54 provides a support for the shaft 63, on which the mutilated gear 64 is secured, the gear 64 meshing with the teeth 65 of the bar 46 (not shown). Arm 66 extends downwardly from the shaft 63, and engages the clutch member 64, transmitting movement to the clutch member 64.

The gear 64 also meshes with the mutilated gear 61, that is mounted on the arm 66 that also depends from the cover. This gear 61 meshes with the mutilated gear 68 supported In the lower end of the arm 16, which gear 66 meshes with the teeth 1I formed in the lower surface of the rear bar 46. The lrear bar 46 is provided with a cut out portion extending from the teeth 1I, to the shoulder 12, with the result that the rear bar 46 may move in one direction, without opered'on the shaft 15. The arm 16 is also mounted on the shaft 15, and extends downwardly, whereit has connection with the clutch member 66 to move the clutchv member 36, when the bar 46 is moved in one direction.

Teeth 11 are formed on the inner surfaces of Lthe gears I3, I6, 25, 28, 6I and 35, which teeth cooperate with teeth 18 formed at the ends of the clutch members which are splined on their supporting shafts. It willthus be seen that when the clutchmembers are moved along their supportingl shafts, they will contact with the pins of the clutch members of the gears, causing the gears to rotate prior to the engagement of the teeth of the gears and clutch members, which locks the gears to the shafts.

It will of course be understood that the gears of the transmission are of such construction that the usual low, intermediate, high and reverse speeds may be had, by shifting the gears in a manner as described.

I claim:

In a clutch for clutching a drive shaft and a driven shaft together, an outer clutch member secured to the driven shaft, said clutch member having a recessed face formed with a tapered wall, teeth extending from the inner end of the recess and. disposed in parallel relation with the axes of the shafts, a plurality of spring pressed pins extending inwardly through the wall of the recess at right angles to the axes of the shafts, and having beveled inner ends, an inner clutch member splined on the drive shaft and having a beveled end portion adapted to move into the recess of the rst mentioned `clutch member, the beveled inner ends of the spring pressed pins engaging the inner clutch member, frictionally clutching the shafts together, and teeth at the inner end of the inner clutch member and adapted to engage the teeth of the outer clutch member, positively clutching the shafts together, and means for operating the clutch.

EDWARD D. JONES. 

